Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!ucsd!nosc!humu!uhccux!todd
From: todd@uhccux.UUCP (The Perplexed Wiz)
Newsgroups: sci.psychology
Subject: Re: language, thought, and culture
Message-ID: <1658@uhccux.UUCP>
Date: 11 Mar 88 18:42:25 GMT
References: <44@gollum.Columbia.NCR.COM> <2894@pbhyf.UUCP> <888@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu> <326@thirdi.UUCP> <899@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu> <5776@dhw68k.cts.com>
Reply-To: todd@uhccux.UUCP (The Perplexed Wiz)
Organization: U. of Hawaii, Manoa (Honolulu)
Lines: 42
Keywords: thought modalities

In article <5776@dhw68k.cts.com> doug@dhw68k.cts.com (Doug Salot) writes:
>While I'm not deaf, it seems to me that thinking should be quite independent
>of the speech modality.  In fact, I propose that virtually any type of
>communicated language serves as a thought-damper!

>There are currently discussions going on in sci.bio, sci.med,
>sci.psychology, comp.edu, and here in sci.lang that all skirt
>around the question of the nature of intelligence, so I'm cross-

>There are several issues here.  Why can humans speak, but animals
>cannot (from comp.ai, "Why can't my cat talk?").  What is intelligence?

>Is the ability to communicate a neccessary precondition of intelligence?
>Does it follow from intelligence?  What is it that differentiates smart
>and stupid people (or animals?)?  How can we best exploit the intelligence
>mechanisms in education?

It seems to me that these comments touch on at least three large areas of
research:

1. Intelligence?  Is intelligence a single dimension (I don't think
   so, personally) or is what we call intelligence simply a convenient
   level for what is really a multi-factor combination of sometimes
   independent processes (e.g., just because you are an expert musician
   doesn't mean you are also an expert in solving engineering problem, or
   foraging for food in the wilderness).

2. Comparative cognition (humans and other animals).

3. The question of the role of literacy (being able to read and write) in
   cognitive processes.  I.e., do people who can read and write think
   differently from people who can't.

My own interests lie primarly in area #1.  Anyone up to date on areas #2
and #3?  I'm afraid I haven't kept up my reading in those areas.

...todd

-- 
Todd Ogasawara, U. of Hawaii Faculty Development Program
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